California sandwich chain Togo’s arrives in Rexburg

Just about anywhere in California, you can find a Togo’s Eateries, a San Jose-based sandwich shop chain billed as “A West Coast Original.”

A few are in Oregon, but get beyond the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, and Togo’s right now are limited to two in Bend, Ore., one in Sandy, Utah, and two in the Phoenix metro.

Rexburg will get the sixth Togo’s in the Intermountain West when Ty and Debbie Jenkins open a franchise on Nov. 21. They plan to open a second Idaho Falls Togo’s in January. Later they anticipate adding a second Togo’s in Idaho Falls and another in Twin Falls.

“I’ve been traveling to California for several years,” Ty Jenkins said. “Freqently, I’d jump into a Togo’s and have lunch there. It think it’s a great opportunity and a great product.”

Togo’s is a franchise-based sandwich chain rooted in deli-style service with artisan breads, hand-sliced meats – especially pastrami. The chain also offers soups and salads.

“We’ve been hooked on Togo’s since our first bite,” Debbie Jenkins said. “We sincerely love the food and know the people of Rexburg will love it too.”

Togo’s presently has 254 restaurants with nearly all in California and a few scattered in Oregon, Utah and Arizona. Idaho will be the fifth state and a Togo’s will open in Colorado later this year.

“Idaho is a natural expansion from California,” said Eric Coolbaugh, Togo’s director of regional marketing. “There are many California transplants up here, and Togo’s fans based in Idaho have been asking us when we’re coming for quite a long while.”

Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg was also a draw for Togo’s.

“Rexburg is an excellent city to make our Idaho debut in, as it’s a growing city with a heavy university population, a perfect combination for Togo’s,” Coolbaugh said.

Togo’s is pronounced toe-go, but the name does originate from early “sandwiches to go” signage.